The Lower Manhattan Community School will divide students into groups by race, known as affinity groups, next week during social justice discussions.
The school’s makeup is “44 percent Asian, 29 percent white, 15 percent Hispanic, and 8 percent black.”
From The New York Post:
A Manhattan junior high school plans to racially separate students while discussing identity and social justice topics next week, The Post has learned.The Lower Manhattan Community School will conduct the controversial exercises as part of its mission to “undo the legacy of racism and oppression in this country that impacts our school community,” according to an email sent to parents.Kids in grades seven and eight will opt into one of five categories, Principal Shanna Douglas wrote in the message.Whites, Asians, and multi-racial students have their own categories, while African-American and Hispanic students are combined into one group, according to her email.“On November 23rd and 24th, 7th and 8th graders will explore the question ‘How do our racial identities influence our experiences?’ in affinity groups,” Douglas announced. “An affinity group is a group formed around a shared interest.”The school has also offered an additional group, which appears to be for those uncomfortable with the format.
Douglas defended the program because “students are talking about it since race has become a popular topic on social media, or parents are talking even more about it at home due to the recent incidents across the nation.”
DOE spokesperson Nathaniel Styer said the School Leadership Team, PTA, and families developed this optional program.
Students and parents can opt out. But how many will? One mother told The New York Post “most parents are too afraid to say anything at this point.”
Again, did the curriculum change so much since I graduated high school in 1999? My schools taught me about slavery and racism to the point where I know both are wrong and disgusting. Then again, the schools didn’t really mention the hatred Irish and Italians faced when they came to America, especially in the 1920s. I cannot imagine what my great-grandparents went through when they came over from southern Italy.
Anyway, schools can use these affinity groups now after Biden suspended former President Donald Trump’s ban on the groups.
New York City public schools love to use affinity groups. In 2020, the city asked early childhood teachers to separate themselves by “skin color, race and ethnicity” for discussion groups.
A Manhattan principle also asked “asked parents to reflect on their ‘whiteness’ to address ‘white supremacy’, ‘white privilege’ and discrimination.”
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